Microsoft Corp. on Thursday said that more than 14 million devices are running Windows 10 in the first 24 hours of the operating system’s release. It is a strong first-day number—until you realize there are billions of PCs out there. Read More »

Windows 10 is a welcome upgrade for PCs of all ages, not to mention a temptation even for those who strayed to the Mac during Microsoft’s darker times. But there’s one key area where it falters in a big way: core apps and services. Read More »

Microsoft’s first-ever offer of free Windows upgrades looks like a big bet. On one hand, it will keep eligible users happy by giving them the freshest software and keeping it up to date with new features and fixes. On the other, it will siphon off a previously reliable revenue stream.

There’s no doubt that Electronic Arts’ coming “Star Wars Battlefront” will be huge. It’s just a matter of how huge. Piper Jaffray expects it will rank up there with “Call of Duty” and “Grand Theft Auto.” Read More »

Microsoft has an unfamiliar but critical marketing task on its hands starting next week: Convincing hundreds of millions of people to download free software.

Beginning July 20, the public will be bombarded with ads for Windows 10 at retailers, on TV and online as the company cranks up a marketing blitz touting the next version of its operating system, which is due to launch July 29. Millions of Windows fans will have a chance to attend launch parties in hotspots around the world. Read More »

Caspar Bowden, a leading British privacy advocate most well known for foreshadowing the revelations made by Edward Snowden, died of a fast-spreading skin cancer on Thursday in southern France, where he lived, his wife Sandi announced on Twitter. He was 53.

Bowden was an outspoken figure who worked for Microsoft and advised the British government and the European Union. He was traveling the world to speak about privacy at conferences. Read More »

Microsoft is planning for Windows 10 to be less of a big bang software release, and more of a rolling wave.

In a blog post, Windows boss Terry Myerson on Thursday gave new details about how Microsoft planned to launch Windows 10, the next version of its operating system for PCs and mobile devices. Read More »